One huge departure from previous BlackBerry models is the removal of the trackball navigator. Ostensibly in response to user complaints about the need to clean or replace the trackball, RIM replaced it entirely with an optical trackpad.

Much like the trackpad on a laptop, you simply press up or down to navigate and the movement is simple and smooth.

The screen is a tiny bit smaller than that of older BlackBerry models but the sharpness and clarity make up for the loss of space.

I found reading e-mail messages and viewing Web pages to be a breeze.

If you're a BlackBerry lover in need of an upgrade, this is one Bold worth changing for.

BlackBerry Bold 9700 by the Numbers:

4.29 inches tall

2.36 inches wide

4.30 ounces (with battery)

6 hours of talk time

Up to 21 days of standby time

Up to 38 hours of music playback time

3.2-megapixel camera

The price: $199 with a new contract from AT&T or T-Mobile

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